Nearly one in 10 shops in Shrewsbury are standing empty as the decline of Britain’s high streets continues, a new report revealed today.

The figures showed on average one in five shops across town centres in the country were empty. The number of buildings being left vacant was continuing to increase but at a slower rate, the latest Local Data Company report said. The survey of more than 700 town centres examines the latest figures from December 2009.

It found some 12.4 per cent of shops were standing empty across Britain.

The British Property Federation said a rise in internet shopping and a lack of investment was to blame.

Shrewsbury was the worst hit in the county with 44 (just over nine per cent) of its 476 shops empty. This compares to just over seven per cent in June 2009 and almost three per cent in December 2008.

In Telford Town Centre seven (almost six per cent) of its 126 shops were empty in December 2009 compared to 3.5 per cent in June 2009 and just under one per cent in December 2008.

Wolverhampton has been one of the worst hit places in the country, with almost 24 per cent of its shops standing empty.

Peter Bettis, chairman of Shrewsbury Business Chamber, said: “I think the figures show that we’re not doing too badly.”

He added: “Certainly in terms of quantity anything that goes is bad because we don’t want to lose anybody but we seem to be standing up to the recession reasonably well although you are seeing a decline.”

Mr Bettis said that although the number of empty shops had risen from just under three per cent to over nine per cent from December 2008 to December 2009, the percentage change from June to December last year was a much smaller rise.

He added: “It is difficult for businesses but we are seeing a number of shops opening as well.”

Tracy Hadley, marketing and promotions manager at Telford Shopping Centre, which is owned by Hark, said: “The economic downturn has hit the UK hard and Telford has sadly been no exception.

“Hark are confident that its plans for regeneration in the town centre can ensure Telford’s recovery, maintaining its position as a major sub-regional centre within the West Midlands.

“However, at the same time it is all the more vital that Government maintains its town centre first approach, including upholding the recently introduced Planning Policy Statement 4 against harmful edge-of-centre development.”

By Lisa Rowley